Cairo

New paperback editionThe extraordinary tapestry of Cairo’s past and present comes vividly to life in this magisterial study by André Raymond, arguably the premier social historian of the Arab world. The most deeply observed and historically nuanced account ever given of the greatest Arab city, this book shows us Cairo from the glimmer of its beginnings in the Arab conquest of Egypt in 640 through its transformation into the modern center of Middle Eastern life today.
There are the Fatimids, the Mamluks, and the Ottomans, the invasions, dynastic changes, and religious conflicts that one after another altered and shaped Cairo’s destiny. And here, alongside rulers and religious leaders, are the merchants and artisans who have given Cairene life its distinctive character over time. Raymond depicts life in Cairo through the centuries, chronicling the coming of European influence, the vagaries of social evolution, and the development of economic structure and urban design.
With its splendid illustrations and maps, and its meticulous attention to the topography and archaeology of the city, this book will prove as valuable to the serious traveler as to observers of Middle Eastern history and society. It stands as the definitive work on Cairo, unparalleled in scope, depth, and detail.

André Raymond was director of the French Institute for Arab Studies in Damascus and of the Institute for Research and Study on the Arab and Islamic World in Aix-en-Provence. He is professor emeritus at the University of Provence and the author of numerous books.

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“A remarkable book, unlike any other in the Middle Eastern history. Raymond offers a beautifully balanced longitudinal view of Cairo from the Arab conquest to 1992.”—Richard Bulliet, author of Islam: The View from the Edge //endoftext//endoftext"This is a fabulously interesting work. . . . Most books by westerners which even approach Cairo lose their marbles fairly quickly. [Raymond's book] maintains such a strong hold on them it should be required reading."—Louisa Young, The Independent//endoftext//endoftext"André Raymond, who traces the growth of Cairo from the founding of the garrison city of Fustat by the Muslim conquerer Amr ibn Al-As in the 7th century to the present, has a sanguine attitude. He celebrates the city even as he charts its many problems. His book, like all good history, puts the present in context."—Zachary Karabell, Los Angeles Times//endoftext//endoftext"Egypt has long served as the pulse of the Arab world . . . [and] a fascinating country for scholars and foreign travelers alike. . . . In this comprehensive study, Raymon . . . meticulously traces Cairo's history to the present day. Highly recommended."—Nader Entessar, Library Journal

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